§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH - COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the fact that some chargemen of trades in the Royal dockyards get 1s. 6d. per day, while others are only allowed 1s. per day; can he say on what grounds the difference is made, and in particular whether the work performed by chargemen paid 1s. per day is in all practical respects identical with chargemen paid 1s. 6d. a day, allowing for the difference in trades; and will he consider the advisability of placing all chargemen of trades on the same footing in respect of the allowance made them by making a uniform payment of 1s. 6d. per day?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. The grounds for differentiation are length of service combined with general and professional ability. The suggestion made in the last part of the question will be considered with the petitions that are now under review.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWhen, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman, will those petitions be answered?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have already given the hon. Member the best answer I can on that point.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether he is aware that the special rates of pay granted to the leather hose makers in 1909 are not giving satisfaction in the Royal dockyards; whether he will consider the advisability of granting a trade rate of pay of 30s. a week for established leather hose makers, and 31s. 6d. for hired men; and will he state the number of hose makers employed in the different royal dockyards, and the number of men in each dockyard who are receiving the maximum rate of wages paid to skilled labourers?
§ Mr. McKENNAWith regard to the first two parts of the hon. Member's question, the representations of the men themselves upon their rates of pay are now under consideration with the annual petitions. The figures asked for in the last part of the question are as follows:—
Total number. Chatham 13 Sheerness 1 Pembroke Dock 2 Devonport 21 Portsmouth 23
Number receiving the maximum rate referred to. Chatham 2 Sheerness None. Pembroke Dock None. Devonport 3 Portsmouth 4
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWill the right hon. Gentleman consider whether he cannot place more men on the maximum rate?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have already stated that the representations of the men themselves are now under consideration.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEYes, but the maximum?